EENN promotes biodiversity conservation and environmental economics

The Environmental Economics Network of Namibia (EENN) has been established to contribute to the protection of Namibia’s unique biodiversity by promoting and mainstreaming the use of environmental economics in the country.

The EENN, whose current management committee members were elected at the network’s 1st AnnualMeeting held on 14 October 2015, is a non-profit member network, dedicated to advancing understanding of the relationships among ecological, social and economic systems for the mutual well-being of nature and people.

Amongst its objectives are the bringing together of like-minded people to exchange ideas, experiences, discuss policy advice and connect with interesting new partners. Also, it provides information about job offers, tenders and relevant publications. It endeavours to promote environmental economics and research as professions among young Namibians through the internet, Facebook, electronic mail, after-work-talks and presentations.

The EENN has until November 2016 hosted seven After-walk-talks in Windhoek on topics such as resource mobilization for biodiversity conservation, economics valuations for ecosystem services, biodiversity and wildlife as key economic drivers.

The Resource Mobilization for Biodiversity Conservation (ResMob) Project is currently supporting the EENN by providing financial and in kind support to the EENN for a limited period. Because the EENN endeavours to improve Namibia’s capacity building to protect biodiversity, especially in the areas of economic valuation of ecosystems services, natural capital accounting and biodiversity finance, the ResMob Project, provides for the initial financial and in kind support to set up the EENN.

However, in the long run, the EENN wants to be self-sufficient in terms of management structure, membership, organization and financial sustainability.

The EENN has a constitution, and accordingly elected office bearers serve on its management committee, including three co-opted members. Any person or institution that subscribe to the EENN can become a member or subscriber. The chairperson of the EENN is Dr. Michael Himavindu, the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and SME Development.

ResMob is a joint project of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH commissioned by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB). This project is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI). The BMUB supports this initiative on the basis of a decision adopted by the German Bundestag. https://www.international-climate-initiative.com